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19 Benji Hughes (Dec. 27): Benji Hughes released a double album this year, A Love Extreme, and the next thing you know, the hirsute one is popping up all over the national radar. If glowing reviews in Spin and Rolling Stone weren't enough, he's also made the list of top songs of 2008 in Blender and got a glowing recommendation from Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis in the same mag. Check him out in front of a small crowd while you can. Snug Harbor. Cost is t.b.a., but we can't imagine it being more than $10.
20 Free condoms: Condoms from the free clinic make an excellent gift. Or just man (or woman) up and buy a pack of Trojans at CVS. Safe sex is the best holiday gift of all and economically responsible. It means that this time next year you won't be spending your hard-earned money on diapers and baby clothes. And on providing for another human being for the next 17 years after that. That pack of condoms isn't looking so expensive now, is it?
21 Free massages: Want some low-cost holiday pampering? Try a massage date with your significant other at the Brookstone store in SouthPark Mall. You can get up to 20 minutes in the big massage chair until the manager comes over to politely ask you to leave. Thirty minutes and you get to meet the mall security. You don't have to just take your significant other -- it's fun for the whole family. Kids love seeing mall cops in uniform up close and personal!
22 Pirate tunes: CL does not endorse or encourage stealing music. That said, if you were to download LimeWire, click ignore when the pop-ups tell you that the music you are downloading may come from an illegal source, and burn the entirety of the new albums that just hit Best Buy at midnight onto a CD with clever artwork from Google images for free for your friends and family, we would not be responsible. At all.
23 Don't mix zodiac signs: Do not save money by combining gifts for your Sagittarius and Capricorn friends (example: "This is your Christmas and birthday gift!") unless you no longer want any Sagittarius or Capricorn friends. If they do remain your friend, do not expect a gift when your birthday rolls around in June, you selfish prick.
24 Employee discount: Get a job at the Dollar Store and enjoy an employee discount of 10-percent off all merchandise for your gift-giving needs. You're not one of those suckers who pays a whole dollar for your plastic clown statues and 3-pack of men's socks when you can get them for 90 cents each, are you? Thought not. Plus, you'll be making money while you shop. Take that, capitalism!
25 Pics for granny: Create a photo Web site for your elderly relatives using free sites like Flickr, Blogger or Wordpress, so that they, too, can be a part of the new fangled Internets and have something to brag about at bingo.
26 Microbe plush: What's the perfect gift for someone who's always sick? Why, a soft microbe plush, of course. At www.thinkgeek.com you can buy a variety of these cuddly toys in different shapes and colors to represent the best microorganisms, germs, viruses and diseases. Selections for $7.99 each include Head Lice, Mono, E. Coli, Chicken Pox, Herpes, Salmonella, the Common Cold and a whole lot more. With this gift, one thing's for sure: It'll have the receiver washing their hands off twice.
27 St. Nick Salt & Pepper Shakers: Santa's fallen down the chimney and he can't get out. But, at least his little misfortune can spice up your day with some laughs about this special set of St. Nick Salt & Pepper Shakers (with the jolly ol' fat man's feet hanging out of the chimney). Available for $4.79 at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores or online at http://shop.crackerbarrel.com.
28 Photo coasters: Setting a beer down on your friend's face sounds fun, right? That's where the Photo Coaster Set available for $10 at Target Stores comes in. A great gift for someone you don't have a clue what to buy, this set is practical. But it can be made personal just by the touch of some photos. For more information, visit www.target.com.
29 Party for free: Yes, this is a shameless plug for Pop Life, the eclectic nightlife event sponsored by The Sol Kitchen and Creative Loafing, but damn, it's a free party! Check it out for art, film, cool people, tasty drinks, a funky vibe and the best blend of noncommercial music (like soul, Afro-beat, Brazilian, house and more) in the city. Every Wednesday, 6 p.m. at Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon (across from Amos' Southend).
30 Comic books: Back in the day, comics used to sell for, like, 25 cents. The price nowadays is way more expensive but, averaging around $3 per copy, they're still relatively cheap. You can snag around three for a little more than $9 or buy a low-priced collection around $9.95 (such as the Lone Wolf and Cub series from Dark Horse Comics). Find a comic shop near you at www.comicshoplocator.com or 1-888-comic-book.